Latest Michael Steele Outrage — He Should Resign

As one of 238 members of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, I have a particular interest in the operation of the Republican Party — and a very small influence on that operation.

Since his election as RNC Chairman, Michael Steele has been a horrific embarrassment. He began his term at the beginning of the year by telling GC Magazine that abortion is “an individual choice,” something that he quickly had to backtrack from. He then called the Rush Limbaugh program “incindiary” and “ugly.” From naming his official blog “What Up?,” to giving some “slum love” to Gov. Jindal, to claiming that white Republicans are scared of him, his public statements have been just plain awful. I cringe every time I see him on TV.

Worse, though, has been his tone-deafness to the concerns of conservative Republicans across the county who don’t want the GOP to become “Democrat lite.” For example, supporting Dede Scozzofava in NY-23 and going along with the NRSC in its scandalous support of Charlie Crist in Florida is not going to convince the conservative base that the GOP actually stands for anything other than getting back into office so that it can start getting the pork again instead of the Democrats. Conservatives around the country are now registering as independents, and many are now discussing the possibility of turning the Tea Party into an actual political party.

Now, though, we learn that Michael Steele is working with four different agencies to book him to speak around the country and collect speaking fees to the tune of $8,000 to $20,000 per speech. That would not be all that outrageous, except that making speeches is the job that the RNC pays him $223,500 a year to do.

I’m more grateful than ever that our three RNC members from Louisiana (State GOP Chairman Roger Villere, RNC Committeeman Ross Little, and RNC Committeewoman Ruth Ulrich) did not support Steele for Chairman. I hope they will now step up to the plate and join me in publicly calling upon him to resign. I plan to do what I can to raise the issue at the State Central Committee Meeting on January 9.

17 Comments

Steele's chairmanship is emblematic of the terrible shape the Republican Party is in, and how behind the curve the party is at present in capturing the Tea Party movement which should have a natural home in the GOP.

The good news is that he's not long for his job and when he goes the party is going to have no choice but to bring in a constitutional conservative who understands the electorate to replace him. The question is, how long will it take to make that change, and can it happen in time to build a winning coalition for the 2010 elections.

Steele's chairmanship is emblematic of the terrible shape the Republican Party is in, and how behind the curve the party is at present in capturing the Tea Party movement which should have a natural home in the GOP.

The good news is that he's not long for his job and when he goes the party is going to have no choice but to bring in a constitutional conservative who understands the electorate to replace him. The question is, how long will it take to make that change, and can it happen in time to build a winning coalition for the 2010 elections.

Scott, it's not at all guaranteed that we'll be able to get rid of him before the 2010 elections. I'm going to try to find out more on this, but I'm not sure how great the sense of outrage is among the 150 members of the RNC — hopefully, it's high.

True. And that is a real problem – it’s increasingly apparent a Steele-led GOP is not going to galvanize the opposition to the hard-left cabal currently running the country into the ground.

It should be said, though, that the Knickerbomber episode has the potential to be a game-changer; here we have what could well have been the worst attack on American soil since 9/11 and the complete failure of our security apparatus has been laid bare – and the president’s people are searching for ways to spin the events for political damage control and covering their rear ends rather than attacking the problem. One more terrorist incident, and there will unquestionably be one, given that the enemy smells blood and appears to be coming at us in waves now, will likely erode whatever confidence the American people have in this man and his minions.

In other words, the bar is likely to be very low in November. But it’s not enough to win an election; the GOP must be qualified to actually lead. With Steele, it’s clear the party is not going to rise to that level.

Hard left Cabal? If by Hard Left you lowering taxes. The moderates in the middle, who do the electing on a national basis as the two extremes cancel each other out, are tired of hearing base labels without fact or evidence. Anything short of fascism is immediately labeled "socialism". I know its just laziness and political convenience at this point to continue to use those labels where they obviously don't apply, but it is driving away voters and is counter-productive. It smacks of hypocritical as well when most spending and government expansion actually comes from the far Right (see Iraq, TARP, and bail outs). I know the current congress is spending like Bush did, but that doesn't make one party or the another big spenders, it means BOTH parties are big spenders. The problem for us Republican moderates is that our party's extreme is spending the money while demonizing spending money – again hypocritical. The 10% that actually vote across party lines aren't dumb, and will continue to see through the sloganeering to a lack of any clear plan to combat "hard left cabals". Less labels, more substance please!

Scott, it's not at all guaranteed that we'll be able to get rid of him before the 2010 elections. I'm going to try to find out more on this, but I'm not sure how great the sense of outrage is among the 150 members of the RNC — hopefully, it's high.

True. And that is a real problem – it’s increasingly apparent a Steele-led GOP is not going to galvanize the opposition to the hard-left cabal currently running the country into the ground.

It should be said, though, that the Knickerbomber episode has the potential to be a game-changer; here we have what could well have been the worst attack on American soil since 9/11 and the complete failure of our security apparatus has been laid bare – and the president’s people are searching for ways to spin the events for political damage control and covering their rear ends rather than attacking the problem. One more terrorist incident, and there will unquestionably be one, given that the enemy smells blood and appears to be coming at us in waves now, will likely erode whatever confidence the American people have in this man and his minions.

In other words, the bar is likely to be very low in November. But it’s not enough to win an election; the GOP must be qualified to actually lead. With Steele, it’s clear the party is not going to rise to that level.

Hard left Cabal? If by Hard Left you lowering taxes. The moderates in the middle, who do the electing on a national basis as the two extremes cancel each other out, are tired of hearing base labels without fact or evidence. Anything short of fascism is immediately labeled "socialism". I know its just laziness and political convenience at this point to continue to use those labels where they obviously don't apply, but it is driving away voters and is counter-productive. It smacks of hypocritical as well when most spending and government expansion actually comes from the far Right (see Iraq, TARP, and bail outs). I know the current congress is spending like Bush did, but that doesn't make one party or the another big spenders, it means BOTH parties are big spenders. The problem for us Republican moderates is that our party's extreme is spending the money while demonizing spending money – again hypocritical. The 10% that actually vote across party lines aren't dumb, and will continue to see through the sloganeering to a lack of any clear plan to combat "hard left cabals". Less labels, more substance please!

We need to mobilize the Tea Party folks to go after Steele. Would it make any difference if that movement worked in unison to drown the RNC with demands to kick Steele out, and quickly? If so, not only would it be a demonstration of their power and passion, but it would give them something to devote their energy to besides starting a thrid party.

We need to mobilize the Tea Party folks to go after Steele. Would it make any difference if that movement worked in unison to drown the RNC with demands to kick Steele out, and quickly? If so, not only would it be a demonstration of their power and passion, but it would give them something to devote their energy to besides starting a thrid party.

I don't get it – you dislike Steele because he makes truthful statements (i.e. Rush IS incendiary; of course he is, even if you agree with him). It seems this author has an axe to grind along ethnic lines. He titled his blog "what up". So? Can he or can he not name his own blog? There is certainly nothing offensive about the title. This is just another example of the extreme right attacking its own sensible, moderate core. The author's dislike of expression or freedom of opinion is unsettling to say the least, it enforces the belief held by all but the most extreme right that the greatest threats to individual liberties comes from the same extreme Right. That stereotype already has history on its side, don't add fuel to the fire.

I don't get it – you dislike Steele because he makes truthful statements (i.e. Rush IS incendiary; of course he is, even if you agree with him). It seems this author has an axe to grind along ethnic lines. He titled his blog "what up". So? Can he or can he not name his own blog? There is certainly nothing offensive about the title. This is just another example of the extreme right attacking its own sensible, moderate core. The author's dislike of expression or freedom of opinion is unsettling to say the least, it enforces the belief held by all but the most extreme right that the greatest threats to individual liberties comes from the same extreme Right. That stereotype already has history on its side, don't add fuel to the fire.